Chicago Mayor Declares City Will Not Cooperate With Federal Troops Amid Trump Threats

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced on Saturday that city police will not collaborate with National Guard troops or federal agents if President Donald Trump proceeds with his threat to deploy them to the city in the coming days.

Flanked by city leaders, the Democratic mayor signed an executive order designed to prepare Chicago for any federal enforcement operations, similar to those previously undertaken in Los Angeles and Washington. Johnson urged the Republican president to reconsider, calling the move a dangerous overreach.

“This is about making sure that we are prepared,” Johnson told reporters. “The order provides clear, direct guidance to city employees and all Chicagoans on how we can stand against this tyranny.”

According to the order, Chicago police officers will continue enforcing state and local laws but will not participate in federal patrols, arrests, or other enforcement actions. The directive also requires officers to wear official uniforms, follow body-camera protocols, and refrain from wearing masks, ensuring they remain visibly distinct from federal operatives.

“The deployment of federal military forces in Chicago without the consent of local authorities undermines democratic norms, violates the city’s sovereignty, threatens civil liberties, and risks escalating violence rather than securing peace,” the order states.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to expand his federal crackdown on Democrat-led cities, framing it as a necessary measure to combat crime. However, Chicago officials cite recent declines in homicides, gun violence, and burglaries as evidence that progress is being made without federal intervention.

Local authorities and residents in Chicago—the nation’s third-largest city—have been bracing for the potential arrival of federal forces. Johnson confirmed that credible reports suggest such an operation could be launched within days.